Saskatchewan’s unemployment rate goes up while national rate goes down

Despite an encouraging number nationally showing the unemployment rate in Canada was below six percent for the first time since 2008, more people were looking for work in Saskatchewan in November.

On Friday, Stats Canada reported the provincial unemployment rate stood at an even six percent which is up point one of a percent from October’s figure.

On a year-over-year basis, the number of people drawing a paycheque in Saskatchewan was down one percent from November of 2016.

That news had the provincial NDP quick to pounce on the Wall government.

“This is not news to the hard-working people I talk to who are struggling to make ends meet but we have to hope that it will be a wake-up call to the Sask. Party who have been ignoring reality,” said NDP Jobs Critic Vicki Mowat in a release.. “The Sask. Party’s approach of cutting important programs and services and giving tax breaks to the wealthy and well-connected is doing nothing to create or even protect Saskatchewan jobs.”